Crystal River current., 1887-03-19
GRANT IN THE WILDERNESS.

The Army Of the Potomac-From the Crossing OF
the Rapidan-To the Siege Of Petersburg In
1854.
There are few more graphic pictures
Of horror OF war than the following
sketch of the campaign in the wilder
Of the 31st Maine for the Springfield
Republican:
1t is the purpose in this account to
review briefly some OF the scenes and
incidents of which the writer was q
witness. Little attempt will be made
to give the positions OF the different
corps which composed the army. For
the most part the observations are
icdn6ned to single regiment.
T. While our, fighting in this campaign
begins at the Rapidan, less than fifty
miles from Richmond in a direct line,
80 many rivers are to be crossed that
the army must move up and down
these streams to find suitable fords
spr for favorable positions for pontoon
bridges. 1t must cross and recross in
accordance with the movements of
the enemy. The soldier, now looking
Aack % years, would estimate his
.route from May 4, when the army
was put in motion toward the Wilder
ness, to June Is, the date Of reaching
1.-THE James, at several hundred miles.
For 30 consecutive days this army
Of the Potomac was in motion and on
the alert, marching one day and meet
ing the enemy the next; again march
ing three days, and either repelling the
ATTACKS or charging the works of the
: loe for as many more.
/ Consider also the load which is car
sried by each soldier-five days. rations,
40 rounds of ammunition, canteen
filled with coffee, and knapsack pre-
pared for q three months campaign.
THE weight OF this burden, including
musket, is not less than 80 pounds.
1t is proper that every soldiers mon.
ument in the land should be surmount-
ed with the representation of a SOL
dier fully equipped. The son of every
veteran, to understand in any degree
the burden which his father bore,
should annually buckle on the old
armor and put himself on the march.
Wonder and admiration would fill
the breast of that son whose father
had for months and years staggered
under such a load. So much in
general.
On May l, the army encamped all
the way from Culpeper courthouse
hortherly for 25 miles toward Alex
andria, numbered from 10000 to
10000 men. Reorganizations and
consolidation OF regiments, brigades
and divisions have been rapidly pro-
crossing and are now nearly complete.
Great activity everywhere prevails.
The drilling oftroops, the distribution
t.n <Hf a..
and above all the presence of Han
cock, Burnside, Meade and Grant, in
dicate an immediate advance. The
appearance of4this vast army reach
ing on both sides OF the highway
toward the distant hills presents a
magnificent picture. Look at it.
Furnished arms on all sides, regiments
on dress parade, inspection of COM
panies. drill by squads, regiments and
brigades, badges, flags, tents dotting
the entire surface, knots of men here
and there discussing the situation and
speculating of the future, officers in
gaudy dress, with aids and order
lies galloping over the tield-these
are some OF the prominent features in
this grand spectacle on these gala days.
Good health and buoyaut spirits are
the rule. At the appearance of some
weli-known and popular general the
men voluntarily rush to the roadside
and send forth cheer upon cheer.
And yet under all this there is q fear
ful foreboding, for Grant is here and
therefore the army Is never to retreat.
Generals are issuing orders to be OBJ
served on the march. Burnside, COM
mander of the 9th corps, with which
our regiment is attached, caused to
be read to each brigade very definite
instructions. Among others was this:
On the march no soldier should
quit the ranks on any pretense what
ever without the permission of his
commanding officer The army is
about to move into the country OF an
active enemy, with no friendly force
behind or near it, and every straggler
runs the risk OF Libby prison or bullet"
Almost every hour OF the day or
night we are expecting to receive the
order, "Forward to Richmond"
May the adjutant OF each regiment
reads Gen. Meade's address. Even
now comes a patriotic throb as we re-
call these words:
Soldiers! The eyes of the whole
country are looking with anxious
hope to the blow you are about to
strike in the most sacred cause that
ever called men to arms. Remember
your homes, your wives and children.
Bear with patience the hardships and
sacrifices you will be called upon to
endure.
On the same day camp is broken,
six days rations are issued and we
are in motion. A few only OF the SOL
diers of our regiment had seen service,
having enlisted in the winter and
spring. The officers, however, were for
the most part veterans who had serv-
ed in the I'd Name regiment
o! for pen which adequately could
set forth the suffering OF oven that
one days march OF 18 miles toward
the Rapidan. At 12 o'clock the bur-
den seems more than double, 80
pounds become 200! Like ship